Lubricating apparatus



May 22, 1934 F. s. BARKS LUBRICATING APPARATUS 2 sheets-sheet l Filed May 27, 1931 May 22, 1934. F. s. BARKS LUBRICATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 27. 1931 Patented May 22, 1934 UNITED wSTATES PATENT ol-Fics LUBBICATING APPARATUS Frank 8'. Barks, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Lin` vcoin Engineering Company, St. Louis, Mo., a

corporation of Missouri This invention relates to lubricating apparatus, and with regard to certain more specic features, to portable dispensing apparatus for heavy, viscous or semi-viscous material such as grease and 6 putty-like substances.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of improvements in the dispensing apparatus described in my ^rUnited, States Patent 1,939,943, dated December 19, 1933;

10 the provision of afiiuid supply chamber which may be` filled and emptied by atmospheric pressure; the provision of a supply chamber of the class described which has a double acting piston which is operable by gas pressure and/or directly 16 by manual force; and thefprovision of a supply chamber for dispensing apparatus `which is adapted to be filled without entrainmenty of air and in which air under pressure may beftrapped to expedite emptying of Isaid chamber; Other ob- 20 jectswillabe in part obvious and inl part pointed out hereinafter. f

Theinvention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts, which will be'exempliiied inthe structure hereinafter described, and the scope of the application voi? which will "beindicated inl thev following claims. *In the accompanying drawingsv in which are illustrated^ several of various ypossible embodimentsof the-invention," Y l v Fi'gl I visa longitudinalsection of lthe apparatus, certain'fparts being in elevation;

` Fig. 2 is an end elevation of a plunger of Fig. l showing apist'on'r'od latched therewith;

Fig. 3` is a left end view of the apparatus certain parts being broken away; and, y

Fig. 4 isI alongitudinal Vsection of -a modiilcation qf'asiinely chamber. y

Similaru reference characters indicate corre-r 40 sponding .parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1 there is shown at numeral 1 jan air engine adapted to operate a pump 3, whichpumps fluid, such as greasefptty lorliire heavy material contained in' a supply chamber 5, into a pressure line 7 which leads to apparatus to'be supplied with the grease or the @likeAs describedin said patent'a single actingplunger 9 vslidable in the chamber, was

forced toward the outlet of the chamber 5, by means :orfani-ing. I havein certain instances, foundvit advantageous .to operate a f doubleactingzrsaherthana single aetingplunger, when dispensing relativehr less viscous fluids, by

means of the atmospheric pressure on the top of the plunger and to fill the chamber by atmospheric pressure by drawing' the piston back into the container. Further, if the pump 3 loses its prime, I have found it advantageous to adapt the piston 9 to manual operation by means of a pis- 60 ton rod 11 whereby the iiuid in the chamber 5 may be forced therefrom by manually forcing the engaged rod and plunger in the Vchamber 5. In instances where relatively viscous iiuid is to be dispensed I have adapted the chamber 5 to force 65 the plunger 9 bymeans of entrapped gas under relatively high pressure.

A complete description of the engine 1 and pump 3 is contained in my said Patent 1,939,943, and only a brief description of thek pump and engine is necema'ry lherein forrthe sake of clarity.

- 'Ihe engine 1 comprises a body'portion 13 which has a cap portion l5, the latter having a, longitudinal extension 17 which serves vas an air passage and as a -grlprfor the hand of an operator. The grip 1'1 includes an air strainer 16 at the inlet and an outlet port 18 communicating with a spring seated line valve 19.' As clearly shown in Fig. 1, the line valve l9`is-operated` by a trigger 29, and is adapted when-open tof'allowiair to pass 80 from said port 18 to a passage 33 'leading to an automatic full stroke valve in the cap 'l5 bymeans of which lair is intermittently forced behind a pis ton 35 which rides in a-oylinder-B'I formed 1interiorly ofthe/body portion y13; '-Thisalr is in- 85 t`eririittentlyV exhausted by said* valve from behindA the piston l35,/the piston being returned to an initial positionby means of a compression spring 39 positioned behind it in the cylinder 37.

The automatic valvecomprisesa control 'stem 76 loosely coupled with the piston 35. The stem 76 passes through a packing gland 81, said gland being affixed to a stationary ported sleeve 83 provided withoppositely disposed inlet ports 85 which 95 are adapted to be put into communication with one another by'agroove "87 of a central slidable sleeve 89 located in the fixed sleeve y83 and controlled bythe stem 76.' The portsiarealso adapted to be cui'. out of communication with one 100 another by said sleeve 89,when thesleeve is in its lower and alternative position. One of the ports 85 is in communication with the passage 33 and thus as is shown in Fig. 1,-the airin the passager 33 is permitted to vflow through the ports 105 85,*past the ,groove V'87 to a positionbehind the piston 35, whereby the piston is forced down againstthe reaction of thespri'ng 89. In this way a stroke of the piston 35 is completed by the pressure of the air which is admitted through the outlet 18 past the line valve 19, through the passage 33, the ports and the groove 87.

In order that the piston 35 may be returned to its initial position as shown in Fig. 1 for another power stroke, the stationary sleeve 83 is also provided with outlet ports 91, the lower one of which communicates with the cylinder 37 above the piston 35, and the upper one of which communicates with an exhaust port 93 in the cap 15. To cooperate with the ports 91 and 93, the movable sleeve 89 is provided with grooves 95 which communicate with one another by reason of the fact that sleeve 89 is smaller in diameter at, between, and above the said grooves 95, whereas below the grooves the sleeve 89 exactly nts the sleeve 83 for sliding and sealing contacts.

In the uppermost position of said sliding sleeve 89 communication between the ports 85 is established, but communication between the ports 91 and 93 is cut oil. In the lowermost and alternative position of the sleeve 89, however, the ports 85 are cut oil from one another and the ports 91 and 93 are in communication.

The sleeve 89 shifts to its alternative position rapidly and only as the piston 35 reaches the very ends of its strokes. This shifting is accomplished by means of the stem 76 attached to the piston 35 and movable therewith, which carries springs 107 which alternately act on a flange 105 of the sleeve 85. The movement of the sleeve 89 from one position to another is retarded until the piston 35 reaches the end of its stroke by means of detents or the like which act on the grooves 95 (Fig. 3).

At numeral 123 (Fig. 1) there is shown an automatic oiling means adapted to supply oil to the various parts of the engine 1. 'I'he oiler comprises a felt pad 125 mounted in a bore 127, which at one end is covered by a plug 129, and at the other end by a disc 131 which is slightly smaller .than the bore. A passage 133 connects the bore 127 and the passage 33. The felt is seeped with oil and as gas under pressure is admitted to the passage 33 it forces the disc 131 against the pad 125 and forces some oil out which oil drips into the passage 33 and is carried by the air to the various parts of the engine.

The pump 3 comprises a plunger 41 reciprocable with the piston 35, and in ai pump bushing 43 which has a bore 51 and an inlet passage 45 in a communication with said supply chamber or cylinder 5. A suitable strainer or screen 47 is held across said passage by an anchored washer 44. A spring pressed outlet check valve 49 is used as an outlet from the bore 51 which communicates with an outlet passage 53 which in turn is connected to the pressure line 7. A manually operable release valve 55 is installed in the passage 53 for the usual purposes.

The supply chamber cylinder 5, as shown in Fig. l, is threaded at its base 57 for manually screwing it to and unscrewing it from corresponding threads on the body 13. This cylinder 5 is provided with a follower piston 9 which rides in the cylinder 5 and also is adapted to slide on and/or be latched or locked with a control or piston rod ll. The piston rod 11 slides in a bore in a cap 74 which covers the end oi' the cylinder 5 opposite the threaded portion 57.

The plunger or piston 9 comprises a central sleeve 61 slidably but substantially sealingly.

sleeve 61 is prevented from sliding oi the rod 11 by means of a pin or stud 73 in the rod 1l. The sleeve 61 also has at one end bayonet openings 63 and 65 in which the key or stud 73 is adapted to be locked by simply guiding the stud 73 into the openings 63, and then turning the rod 1l relative to the piston 9, whereby the stud 73 rotates in the opening 65 and is not permitted to be removed through the opening 63 until again properly aligned therewith. It is thus seen that by means of the rod 1l and a handle 75 connected thereon, the piston 9 may be positively and manually moved in either direction in the cylinder 5, or the rod- 11 may freely pass through the sleeve 61 whereby the piston 9 is allowed to freely float in the chamber 5. Furthermore, the two washers 67 provide a double acting piston adapted to effect sealing between the piston and walls of the cylinder against fluid pressure on either side of the piston.

The operation of the dispensing apparatus as a Whole is as follows:

Assume that the piston 35 and plunger 41 have made a return stroke, whereby the vacuum created in the bore 51 by the retrogression of the plunger 41 and by the sealing effect of the valve 49, has drawn grease or like uid from the chamber 5 through the passage 45 into the bore 51. The atmospheric pressure on the side of the piston 9 away from the pump forces the grease from the chamber 5 through the passage 45 into the evacuated bore 51. If now the trigger 29 is pulled towards the handle 17, gas under pressure from a pressure line 14 enters the outlet 18, goes through the passage 33, the ports 85 and the groove 87, and forces the piston 35 down against the reaction of the spring 39. As the piston 35 goes down into the cylinder 37 it forces the plunger 4l down in the bore 51 and the fluid contained in the bore 51 is forced out past the check valve 49 and into the line 7. As the piston 35 reaches the bottom of its stroke, the spring 107 reacting on the flange 105 and compressed by the stem 76, forces the sleeve 89 to its lowermost position whereby the air from the passage 33 is cut 0H, and the top of the piston 35 is placed in communication with the outlet port 93 whereby the pressure of the air is released and the spring 39 returns the piston 35 to its position as shown in Fig. 1. In this way, the plunger 41 is drawn back in the bore 51 and the aforementioned vacuum is created and the atmospheric pressure operating on the piston 9 forces grease through the passage 45 into the passage 51 as the plunger 41 retires in the bore 51. As the piston 35 reaches its uppermost position, the stem 76 carrying the springs 107 reverses its action on the flange 105 of the sleeve 89 which is thrown to its uppermost and alternative position as shown in Fig. 1 whereby the communication between the passage 33 and the upperside of the piston 35 is again established and the cycle is repeated.

If suiiicient air gets into the bore 51, the pump will lose its prime, inasmuch as the air in the passage 51 will be compressed and then reexpanded, thereby preventing the creation oi' a vacuum. If this occurs the manually operable valve 55 is opened to allow the air to be escaped. 'I'his situa-v tion also may be corrected by locking the stud '73 in the opening 65 of the sleeve 61 and manually pushing the plunger 9 to force the grease into the passage 45 and bore 51.

After the cylinder 5 has been emptied it may easily be refilled, if the fluid being is mit of an exceptionally viscous nature, by simply unscrewing the cylinder 5 from the body portion 13 putting the open end of the cylinder 5 under the surface of the fluid to be dispensed and manually pulling back the plunger 9 from the threaded end of the cylinder 5 by means of the rod 11 and handle 75. Inasmuch as the plunger 9 is double acting, because of the flanges 72 of the two washers 67, the atmospheric pressure will force the fluid to be dispensed into the chamber 5 as the piston 9 is drawn into the cylinder. Thus in this way substantially no air is entrapped between the open ends of the cylinder 5 and the piston 9. The cylinder 5 is now screwed back on the body portion 13 by the threads 57 and the rod 11 is turned to unlock the stud 73 from the openings 63 and 65 and is pushed into the cylinder 5, sliding through the sleeve 61.

At any time however, the rod 11 may be drawn and locked with the plunger 9 toadd manual pressure to the atmospheric pressures to force the grease into the passage 45 and into the bore 51.

An alternative way of filling the chamber 5 which is offered by the invention without including air between the piston 9 and the open end of the cylinder 5 is to lock the rod 11 with the plunger 9, move the plunger to the open end of the cylinder, and then force grease into the cylinder gradually forcing the piston 9 back as the cylinder .5 is filled. It is thus seen that no air pockets are formed in the material filling the cylinder 5. This method is preferable when exceedingly viscous materials are being dispensed.

An advantage of this modification of the invention is that a supply chamber has been provided for a dispensing apparatus which, though ordinarily adapted to supply grease by means of atmospheric pressure to the pump, may also employ manual force to aid such supply. Further by means of the double acting piston 9 and the rod 11 two improved methods of refilling the cylinder 5 are provided.

In the event that the uid which is being dis pensed is more viscous it may become necessary to employ additional pressure over that of the atmosphere to automatically force the grease into the passage 45 and into the bore 5l. I have provided for such a chamber 5 as shown in Fig. 4. In this modification the piston 9 comprises the same center sleeve 61 and washers 67, but the nut 71 is replaced by a second sleeve 109 adapted to thread on the sleeve 61 and lock the washers 67 together. Packing 113 is forced against the sleeve 109 and the rod 11 by means of a packing nut 111 threaded into the sleeve 109. Like packing 113 seals the rod 11 at the cap 74 and is packed by a second packing nut 111. The cap 74 also carries a quick detachable air hose coupling 115 which communicates with the inside of the cylinder 5 through a passage 117, but which is prevented from communcation between the cylinder 5 and the coupling 115 by means of the check valve 119 inserted between the coupling 115 and the passage 117. A second and manually operable valve 121 is adapted to connect the inside of the cylinder 5 with the atmosphere.

The operation of this modification of the chamber 5 is as follows:

The cylinder 5 is screwed on to the body portion 13 by means of the threads 57 after it has been suitably filled with grease. Then the air hose 14 is attached to the coupler 115 for a few moments and then detached and returned to its coupler on the handle 17. In this way compressed air from the hose 14 passesthe check valve 119, and enters the cylinder 5 through the passagel 117 and, being entrapped between the piston 9 and the cap 74, expands and reacts against the piston 9 to force it and the grease towards the passage 45. The check valve 119 and the packings 113, prevent the escape of the compressed gas thus entrapped in the cylinder 5. Thus a high pressure considerably above that of atmospheric pressure may be employed to force the grease or like fluid from the cylinder 5 into the passage 45 to feed the pump 3.

In the event, after the cylinder 5 has been emptied of grease, that a high gas pressure is still maintained in the cylinder 5 the manually operable valve 121 is unscrewed to release the pressure. The cylinder is again filled as hereinbefore described and again air is entrapped and expanded to force the grease or other fluid into the passage 45.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results obtained.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it isintended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In dispensing apparatus, a material supply chamber, a piston slidable in and sealed against the walls of said chamber, said chamber carrying a charge of material ahead of said piston, an air connection to said chamber behind said piston whereby air under pressure may be introduced, said connection including means for removably applying an air hose, an automatically reciprocable air pump adapted to receive material from said chamber and eject the same, a compressed air connection for said reciprocable air pump, said last-named connection and said connection on the chamber being adapted to interchangeably receive the same air hose coupling.

2. In dispensing apparatus, a pump, a supply chamber for delivering material to said pump, a pressure piston in said supply chamber, an air connection for said pump and an independent air connection for said chamber behind said piston, said connections being adapted to interchangeably receive in connection therewith the coupling end of an air line.

3. In dispensing apparatus, a pump, a supply chamber for delivering material to said pump, an air connection for said pump and an independent air connection for said chamber, said connections being adapted to interchangeably receive in connection therewith the coupling end of an air line.

4. In a portable grease gun, a pump, a supply chamber for delivering material to said pump, an air connection for said pump and an independent air connection for said chamber, said connections being adapted to interchangeably receive in connection therewith the coupling end of an air line.

FRANK S. BARKS. 

